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P at P ruitt
Prototype to Perfection
Diana F. Pardue
42 ORNAMENT 37.1.2013
I
t starts with a sketch and then it is followed by
several more. One or two might be selected and
refined to make an item of jewelry, a vase, a unique
piece. This is a glimpse of the creative process of Pat
Pruitt. Although he learned traditional silverworking
techniques as a teenager, Pruitt's later training in
mechanical engineering led him to understand the
properties of stainless steel and titanium, adapting
them first to body piercing jewelry and then to more
conventional jewelry forms. For several years, Pruitt has
created a line of bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry
items as well as one-of-a-kind belts, vases and other
distinctive objects like a set of spurs and a tribute dog
collar and chain for his beloved Mooch. His entries in
regional American Indian art fairs have garnered Pruitt
several awards but also the attention of Southwestern art
collectors. His jewelry line is unusual not only for the
materials he uses but also for his distinctive designs.
Pruitt's path to jewelry design could be perceived
as partly traditional and nontraditional. He was
raised in Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and is of
Pueblo, Chiricahua Apache and Caucasian heritage.
At the age of fifteen while recovering from a bike
accident, he was fortunate that silversmith Greg
Lewis allowed him to try his hand at metalworking.
Lewis, according to Pruitt, is one of those "unsung
heroes." Lewis is a traditional silversmith who excels
at making everything by hand including many of his